Accumulator construction



United ACCUMULATOR `CONSTRUCTION Jean Mercier, N ew York, N.Y.

Application February 17, 1954, Serial No. 410,921

7 Claims. (Cl. 13S-30) It is among the objects of the invention toprovide a simple and expeditious method of manufacturing pressureaccumulators from relatively low cost materials without the need forprecise tolerances or precision work requiring highly skilled workers.

Another object is to provide a pressure accumulator which is strong anddurable and not likely to break down and which may readily bemanufactured from relatively inexpensive components and may readily bedisassembled for maintenance and repair.

According to the invention, these objects are accomplished by the methodand arrangement and combination of elements hereinafter described andparticularly recited in the claims.

In the accompanying drawings in which are `shown one or more of variouspossible embodiments of the several features of the invention,

Figs. l and 2 are longitudinal sectional views of different embodimentsof the invention,

Fig. 3 is a fragmentary longitudinal sectional View of anotherembodiment of the`invention, and

Figs. 4 and 5 are fragmentary longitudinal sectional views of a bladder.

Referring now to the drawings, the accumulator shown in Fig. 1 desirablycomprises a substantially cylindrical shell or container 11 having a gasinlet port 12 in its closed end 13.

Positioned in said container is a deformable elongated bladder 14 ofnatural or synthetic rubber or of plastic having like characteristics.The bladder 14 at its end 15 has an internal axial extension `16desirably molded integral therewith, the function of which will behereinafter described.

The bladder 14 is desirably initially molded by placing a charge ofsuitable material into the cavity of a mold base having an outstandinglateral recess at its upper end,

placing a core in the cavity and thereupon applying heat 1 and pressureto the mold until the bladder is formed. The core and the bladder arethereupon removed, the bladder thus formed having an outwardly directedthickened bead 17 at its mouth, as shown in Fig. 4. The bladder is thenreversed so that the bead 17 will then be on the inside of the bladderas shown in Fig. 5. Such construction facilitates removal of the core ofthe mold after the molding operation.

Although the bladder may be retained in the container in any suitablemanner, as illustratively shown, the thickened bead 17 at the mouth ofthe bladder 14 is desirably clamped against the inner surface of end 13of the container by means of a clam-p disc 18. The disc 18 has an axialstem 19, preferably formed integral therewith, which extends through theport 13, the stem being externally threaded as at 20 to receive a nut21.

The disc 18 has a peripheral annular ilange 22 and an outstandingprojection, desirably an annulus 23, which is `designed to abut againstthe undersuface of the closed end of the shell. In addition, an annularshoulder 24 is provided at the root end of stem 19, said shoulder havingan rice 2 annular groove 25 in which a resilient sealing member such asan O ring 26 is positioned.

To close the open end or mouth 27 of the container 11, a substantiallycup-shaped cap 28 is provided having a side wall 29 of inner diametersuch that it will encompass the open` end 27 of the container and litsnugly thereagainst. The floor 31 of the cap desirably has a cylindricalaxial extension 32 preferably formed integral therewith and defining afluidport 33, said extension being threaded as at 34 to receive asuitable coupling (not shown). In addition, the floor has a plurality ofoutstanding bosses 35 on its inner surface which serve Yto space aperforated plate 36 from said floor 31. The plate 36 desirably is curvedto conform to the curvature of the lloor 31 and is of diameter slightlyless than the inner diameter of the mouth of the container.

To assemble the accumulator shown in Fig. l, the beaded mouth 17 of thebladder is positioned so that it encompasses the periphery of the disc18 and rests on the flange 22. The resilient seal ring 26 is thenpositioned in annular groove 250i shoulder 24; the stem 19 of the disc18 is then passed through the port 12 and the nut 21 is screwed tightlyon the threaded end of the stem until the annulus 23 abuts against theinner surface of the closed end of the container.

As a result, the O ring 26 will be compressed to form a seal between thestem 19 and the container and the thickcned bead 17 at the mouth of thebladder will be cornpressed by the flange 22 against the inner surfaceof the container so that such beaded portion will. be securely retainedin position. The end 15 of the bladder is then pushed by hand toward thedisc 18 so that the axial eX- tension 16 of the bladder passes throughthe bore 37 of the stern 19. The end of the extension which protrudesfrom the stem is then held by a suitable clamp 3S so that the lower endof the bladder will be retained adjacent the disc 18, assuming theposition illustratively shown in dot and dash lines in Fig. l.

The perforated plate 36 is then positioned so as to rest on the bosses35 on the floor 3l of the cap 2S, axially aligned with the port 33. Aring 41 of any suitable metallic bonding material such as silver solder,of diameter slightly less than the inner diameter of the container 11 ispositioned on the surface of the plate` 36. The cap 28 with the plateand solder ring 41 thereon is then fitted over the end 27 of thecontainer 1l so that the side wall 29 of the cap will encompass the openend of the container and the rim 4Z of such container will rest on theiloor of the cap adjacent its side wall 29. A. second ring 43 of solderis then positioned around the container so that it rests on the upperedge 44 of the side wall 29 as shown in Fig. l.

A source of heat of sufficient temperature to melt the solder rings 41and 43 is then applied to the end 27 of the container until both of thesolder rings are melted. As a result, the cap 28 will be securely bondedto the side wall 29 of the container as at 45 and the plate 36 will besecurely bonded to the inner wall of the container as at 46.

After the solder and the container have cooled, the clamp 38 holding theprotruding end of the extension 16 is released and the bladder willthereupon drop into the container, assuming its normal form shown infull lines. A conventional gas valve (not shown) may then be screwedinto the threaded bore V37 ofthe stem and the accumulator is then readyfor use in conventional manner.

The embodiment shown in Fig. 2 is similar in many respects to that shownin Fig. l and corresponding parts have the same reference numeralsprimed.

In this embodiment port 12' in the end 13 of the container is of greaterdiameter than the port 12 of p Patented Maylz, 1959 Fig. l and is sealedby means of a disc 18 and a clamp plate 51. The disc 18 has a stem 19preferably formed integral therewith which is externally threaded as at20'. The disc 18 is of diameter such that its top surface will engagethe under-surface of the container adjacent the rim of its port 12 andthe disc 18 has a peripheral flange 22 which is spaced from the adjacentinner surface of the wall of the container when the disc 18' is retainedthereagainst.

The plate 51 is of heavy resilient material such as sheet rnetal and hasan axial opening 52 through which the stem 19' extends. The plate has anoutstanding side wall 53 of outer diameter slightly less than thediameter of the port 12 so that it may readily tit in such opening vandsaid side wall 53 has a lateral flange 54 adapted to seat on the outersurface of the shell adjacent the rim of port 12. The length of the sidewall 53 is less than the thickness of the container wall at such port 12so that the floor 55 of the plate 51 will be spaced from the disc 18'when the latter abuts against the undersurface of the container as shownin Fig. 2.

In assembling the accumulator shown in Fig. 2, the beaded mouth 17 ofthe bladder is positioned so that it encompasses the periphery of disc18 and rests on the ange 22. The disc 18 is then inserted into thecontainer through its open end 27 so that the stem 19 extends throughthe port 12'. The plate 51 is then positioned so that the stem 19'extends through its opening 52 and with the flange 54 of the plate 51resting on the outer rim of the port 12; thus centering the disc 18 andthe bladder 14 in the container. A nut 21 is then screwed tightly onstern 19 causing the disc 18 and flange 54 to clampv the rim of port 12therebetween, such clamping action also causing the beaded mouth 17 ofthe bladder to be clamped by the flange 22 against the container.

A conventional gas valve (not shown) which is screwed into the stem 19is then opened and the bladder is cornpressed as by hand and movedupwardly. The valve is then closed retaining the end 15 of the bladderadjacent the disc 18 as shown in dot and dash lines in Fig. 2.

If desired, instead of manually compressing the bladder and moving itupwardly, suction may be applied through the open valve in the stem 19to effect such collapse and contraction of the bladder 14.

The end 27' of the container 11 is then closed in the manner previouslydescribed with respect to the embodiment shown in Fig. 1 and after thecontainer and solder have cooled, the valve in stern 19' is opened sothat atmospheric pressure will cause the bladder 14 to assume its normalposition shown in full lines in Fig. 2.

The embodiment shown in Fig. 3 is also similar in many respects to theembodiment shown in Figs. 1 and 2 and corresponding parts also have thesame reference numerals double primed. In this embodiment, the port 12in the container 11 is sealed by means of a disc 18 which desirably hasan axial opening 58 therethrough of relatively small dimensions and isconcave on its inner surface adjacent said bore as at 59. A mass ofselfsealing rubber 61 of conventional type is positioned in theconcavity 59 of the disc 18" and retained therein as by means of a plate62 welded or otherwise affixed to the undersurface of the disc as at 63and having an opening 64 therethrough aligned with the opening 58 indisc 18". The plate 62 adjacent its opening 64 is desirably concave onits inner surface, as at 65, the concave portions 59 and 65 of the disc18" and plate 62 dening a pocket in which the mass of rubber 61 issecurely retained to seal the openings 58 and 64. The disc 18" at itsperiphery has a flange 22 which serves to clamp the thickened headportio-n 17 of the bladder 14" against the inner surface of thecontainer securely to retain the bladder in position.

Although the disc maybe retained vin fixed position against the innersurface of the container adjacent the port 12 in any suitable manner, inthe illustrative embodiment herein, a ring 67 of resilient material,such as sheet metal, substantially L-shaped in cross section, has one ofits legs 68 afxed as by welding to the top surface of the disc 18" andits other leg 69 which preferably is split as at 71 and which normallyis resiliently stressed outwardly, will clamp against the side wall ofthe port 12 in the container.

The pressure accumulator shown in Fig. 3 is assembled by positioning thebeaded portion 17" of the bladder so that it encompasses the peripheryof the disc 18" and rests on the flange 22". The disc 1S is thereuponinserted into the container and the outwardly stressed leg 69 is pressedinwardly so that it may pass through port 12" and such leg 69 is thenreleased, securely retaining the disc 18" in position with the beadedportion 17" clamped against the inner surface of the wall of thecontainer adjacent port 12".

A needle (not shown) having a bore therethrough is then passed throughthe aligned openings 58 and 64 of the disc 18" and the plate 62 andthrough the rubber mass 61. The bladder 14" is then compressed manuallyand moved toward the disc 18 and the needle is then removed so that therubber mass 61 will seal the opening made by the passage of the needletherethrough to retain the bladder in compressed condition as shown indot and dash lines in Fig. 3 so that its end 15" is spaced from the openend of the container 11'.

If desired, instead of manually compressing the bladder, suction may beapplied to the needle to achieve the same result.

The open end (not shown) of the container 11" is then closed in themanner describedwith respect to the embodiment shown in Fig. l andthereupon after the container and solder have cooled, the needle isinserted into the rubber mass 61 so that communication is affordedbetween the interior of the bladder 14 and the atmosphere and as aresult, the bladder will expand to assume the position shown in fulllines by reason of atmospheric pressure.

With the methods above described, a relatively inexpensive low pressureaccumulator may be formed. As the lower end of the bladder, during thebonding operation, is moved away from the region to which heat isapplied to close the lower end of the container, such lower end willsuffer no injury. To open the accumulator for any purpose, such as toclean its interior or to replace the bladder, heat may be applied to thelower end of the container to re-melt the metallic bonding material sothat the cap is readily removable. If the bladder is not defective, bymerely applying suction to the gas port in the manner previouslydescribed, the lower end of the bladder can be moved away from thesoldered portion prior to the heating operation so that no injury willbe imparted thereto.

As many changes could be made in the above method and equipment, andmany apparently widely different ernbodiments of this invention could bemade without departing from the scope of the claims, it is intended thatall matter contained in the above description or shown in theaccompanying drawings shall be interpreted as illustrative and not in alimiting sense.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new and desire tosecure by Letters Patent of the United States is:

1. As an article of manufacture, a bladder of resilient deformablematerial having a mouth and having an elongated member of the samematerial as the bladder and molded integrally therewith, said elongatedmember being aflixed at one end in the bladder at the portion of thelatter opposed to said mouth and extending toward said mouth.

2. A pressure accumulator comprising a rigid container having a port, abladder of resilient deformable material in said container, said bladderhaving a mouth, means securely clamping said bladder in the container,said means comprising a disc having an axial opening therethrough ofrelatively small diameter, a mass of self-sealing rubber positioned onthe undersurface of said disc over the opening therein, means clampingsaid mass of rubber to said disc, the diameter of said disc being suchthat its undersurface may rest against the undersurface of the containeradjacent the port therein, said disc having a peripheral annular ilangeon which the rim of the mouth of the bladder is seated, a resilientretaining member substantially L- shaped in cross section having one ofits legs aixed to theouter surface of the disc, the other leg of saidretain ing member extending through the port in said container and beingresiliently urged against the wall of said port securely to retain thedisc in position.

3. The combination recited in claim 2 in which the disc is concave onits inner surface adjacent the axial opening therethrough, said mass ofrubber being positioned in said concave portion, and the means to retainthe mass of rubber against the disc comprises a plate concave on itsinner surface and afxed at its periphery to the undersurface of thedisc, said plate having an axial opening aligned with the opening insaid disc.

4. As an article of manufacture, a bladder of resilient deformablematerial having a mouth at one end and of largest diameter at said mouthend, the diameter of said mouth being substantially equal to the largestdiameter of said bladder, a disc positioned in the mouth of saidbladder, said disc having a passageway therethrough leading into thebladder, said disc being of diameter greater than that of the wall ofthe bladder adjacent its mouth so that by reason of the resilience ofthe bladder the wall portion thereof adjacent its mouthwill snuglyengage the top, side and bottom of the disc adjacent its periphery.

5. The combination set forth in claim 4 in which the mouth of thebladder has an inturned rim formed integral therewith.

6. A pressure vessel comprising a rigid container having a port at oneend, a bladder of resilient deformable material in said container, saidbladder having a mouthat one end and being of largest diameter at saidmouth end, the diameter of said mouth being substantially equal to thelargest diameter of said bladder, a disc adapted to be secured in saidport, said disc having a passageway therethrough to providecommunication between the interior of the bladder and the exterior ofthe container, said disc being of diameter such that its top surface mayengage the undersurface of the container adjacent the port therein, saiddisc being positioned in the mouth of the bladder, and being of diametergreater than the portion of the bladder adjacent said mouth, whereby byreason of the resilience of the bladder, the wall portion thereofadjacent ts mouth will snugly engage the top, side and bottom ofthe discadjacent its periphery.

7. 'I'he combination set forth in claim 6 in which the mouth of thebladder has an inturned bead formed integral therewith, which iscompressed between the outer surface of the disc adjacent its peripheryand the adjacent portion of the end of the container adjacent the portthereof.

References Cited in the tile of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS1,596,800 Burgert Aug. 17, 1926 1,951,193 Heighway Mar. 13, 19342,123,381 Reichel July 12, 1938 2,371,633 Lippincott Mar. 20, 19452,390,319 Overbeke Dec. 4, 1945 2,392,173 Mercier Jan. 1, 1946 2,399,879Mercier May 7, 1946 2,401,791 Overbeke June 11, 1946 2,411,874 GoldenDec. 3, 1946 2,460,121 Brielmaier Jan. 25, 1949 2,492,000 Morris Dec.20, 1949 2,549,428 Costea Apr. 17, 1951 2,550,892 Weber et al May 1,1951 2,630,834 Weber et al. Mar. 10, 1953 2,703,108 McCuistion Mar. 1,1955

